Why should I not get an R9 295x2?

[bystander36]

I never was a PC gamer who was hardcore worried about latency. In fact, never have I once thought about it beyond complaining about actual lag from the internet. Otherwise, latency below 100 ms is enough for my purposes. I'm willing to bet the HDTV I was playing on the last 3 months that is my roommates 32 inch had over 100ms the whole time. So unless it's a massive latency issue, I'd rather not bring it up as I'm using this on a projector and not a 1 ms response time monitor.

I'm guessing you are a gamer who plays with a controller.

Mouse driven games are far worse with bad latency. Not internet latency, but you moving your mouse and the delay it has on moving your view.

You also seem to be dragging in some old hurt feelings of some conversation with others and lacking some technical knowledge in the process. 1ms response time monitors have little to do with latency.

 

[tential]

I play with a controller for the vast majority of games. I only play with mouse/keyboard if I absolutely have to (Dota 2 for example). I don't play FPS online like BF4 or anything on a PC. No desk, and no care to start getting into that style of PC gaming again.

So like I said, unless it would majorly effect something at a massive magnitude, it doesn't matter to me. I've tested a lot of different setups to see what things do effect my games experience and this isn't one of them with how I play now.

If I get a desk and start playing CS again, I already know what I need but I lay down and play RPGs to relax in a slightly inebriated setting. I don't care.

 

[bystander36]

While you might not care much, it is a real disadvantage.

 

[crashtech]

Requires me to purchase a Norco 4224 case and all the necessary equipment to set that up. That's a lot of cash for me to sink down at once to get it up and running. Saving up for it, so I'll use only one card for now until I feel comfortable spending $1000 on the stuff necessary to setup a 24 bay server.
Edit: Which is hilarious to say since I'd have spent a lot more cash on other expenditures but basically it's because I can get away with it right now and since I can I do. I'll probably upgrade to this server in August/September when I fill up my next hard drive purchase. Was going to purchase an 8TB, but with a 24 bay server on the way, might as well get another 5TB, I'll have the bays after all.

I know this is OT, but you can get into some retired server stuff for WAY less than that, my NAS is a guts of a retired Supermicro with a Xeon L5420, 8GB, tossed into a big cheap Rosewill case. Closer to $300 for me, though it's not exactly low power (50W CPU), it works good, is common hardware for drivers, and has gigabit Ethernet.

 

[tential]

While you might not care much, it is a real disadvantage.

Please feel free to let me know any other information not relevant to my decision. It will REALLY help me make my decision and is very very welcome in a thread I created to help me pick a new GPU solution moving forward.

I'll remember to make sure to focus on creating a low latency setup, despite not playing games or utilizing my setup in anyway that would benefit from said setup. It's EXTREMELY helpful to me that you continue to push this subject, the exact reason I get annoyed with people who do as they can't let it go and accept that there are people out there that aren't bothered by anything except extreme cases.

I know this is OT, but you can get into some retired server stuff for WAY less than that, my NAS is a guts of a retired Supermicro with a Xeon L5420, 8GB, tossed into a big cheap Rosewill case. Closer to $300 for me, though it's not exactly low power (50W CPU), it works good, is common hardware for drivers, and has gigabit Ethernet.

I thought about doing that and I've looked at some cases. I dunno, it's my data, I feel odd putting it into a used old server setup. I want my server setup to stress low power use and quiet operation as much as possible and I'd honestly have liked to use broadwell but it seems broadwell isn't really getting to PC. I want to use a 24 port SAS expander, Controller Card, Mobo, Norco 4224, cheap skylake low end cpu for low power usage, ram should be cheap it's an unraid server.

All of that for an unraid server should be not too bad, but I think the 24 port SAS expander may bottle neck me in later scenarios and I do want to use this server for awhile. Still thinking and deciding on the server end, hence why the gaming PC doubles up. I also watch more TV than I game so hence why the drives are in there in the first place. I've been scared of the used server market though although I've continuously looked at it ever since the mega thread on avsforum came up for cheap norco 4224 alternatives.

 

[SolMiester]

OMG, 24 disk server?LOL, what are you using for backups?

 

[Z15CAM]

Have no clue what your Processor, MB or Ram is but if you intend to venture into 4k by all means get a R9 295 x's 2 with an over-clock-able $300 Korean QNIX QX 2510 EVO II Matt IPS 1440p Display.

Enjoy it until true 4K eventually evolves.

A 980Ti may come close to a 295 x'2 at 1440p but after 1440p Res, a 295 x's 2 will clobber that 980Ti.

Word of caution; that 295 x's 2 is power hungry and requires at least a solid Gold 750W PSU.

 

[tential]

OMG, 24 disk server?LOL, what are you using for backups?

5TB Seagate drives. Whatever is cheap on sale really. I plan on moving it to an unraid server. Right now, it any drive died, I'd just sit down and cry. I cross my fingers and pray right now. 24 bays is because I am budgeting to purchase a 5TB drive a month (originally 8TB but I think I'll save money for now).

I only have 24 TB or something like that but with 4k movies coming, I want to be ready to have a place to store drives.

Have no clue what your Processor, MB or Ram is but if you intend to venture into 4k by all means get a R9 295 x's 2 with an over-clock-able $300 Korean QNIX QX 2510 EVO II Matt IPS 1440p Display.

Enjoy it until true 4K eventually evolves.

A 980Ti may come close to a 295 x'2 at 1440p but after 1440p Res, a 295 x's 2 will clobber that 980Ti.

Word of caution; that 295 x's 2 is power hungry and requires at least a solid Gold 750W PSU.

Hey, thanks for your input here. To update you on my situation first:
I have a 4770k, 8GB of Ram, Z87 mobo (Z87-A Pro Asus), 720 Coolermaster PSU.

My current plan is to pick up 2 R9 290s used for ~$400. The r9 295x2 was dropped due to not having picked it up during a good sale, the power supply thing, and really the used market for people droping their cards for nvidia cards now that the fury/300 series is meh is large on craigslist so why not take advantage of it and save cash?

Now Scroll up a bit, you'll see I'm playing a very LIMITED set of games, nothing new, so no need to worry about crossfire not working. So the R9 290s will probably be as fast if not faster than the FuryX/GTX 980Ti.

My plan is to play on a 1080p W1070 projector on an 80 inch screen (small I know whatever I'll get a real screen some day). I plan to use VSR to 4k downsample to 1080p, or to 1600p downsample to 1080p. Basically, to downsample to 1080p whatever game I'm playing of those sets of games. The higher the system requirement in that set of games, the less likely I am to play it, and the more likely I am to play it a long time from now.

From that list of games, I'm likely to finish 5 games, and will pick the 5 games I can run at the highest settings for best fidelity for immersion while I enjoy the game as the list of games is all pretty good to me.

Thanks for your input, hope that helps in your recommendation although right now I'm not seeing anythign that beats the R9 290s. I'm more worried about going into the used market for GPUs as I NEVER buy used. What should I be worried about? That's what makes me always purchase new.

 

[RussianSensation]

Have no clue what your Processor, MB or Ram is but if you intend to venture into 4k by all means get a R9 295 x's 2 with an over-clock-able $300 Korean QNIX QX 2510 EVO II Matt IPS 1440p Display.

Enjoy it until true 4K eventually evolves.

A 980Ti may come close to a 295 x'2 at 1440p but after 1440p Res, a 295 x's 2 will clobber that 980Ti.

Word of caution; that 295 x's 2 is power hungry and requires at least a solid Gold 750W PSU.

What? A single 1500mhz 980Ti OC is a way better gaming option than a single R9 295X2. Firstly, even when CF scales, the game needs to run at higher minimums to feel as smooth on that dual-chip setup. Secondly, if CF doesn't work, 980Ti OC will be 75-80%+ faster than a single 290X chip. Unless someone can get a 295X2 for dirt cheap, it makes no sense. If someone wants a power house cheap 4K dual card setup, might as well get used after market 290s as a stop-gap. A $550 R9 295X2 is just a bad deal against an after-market 980Ti.

 

[tential]

What? A single 1500mhz 980Ti OC is a way better gaming option than a single R9 295X2. Firstly, even when CF scales, the game needs to run at higher minimums to feel as smooth on that dual-chip setup. Secondly, if CF doesn't work, 980Ti OC will be 75-80%+ faster than a single 290X chip. Unless someone can get a 295X2 for dirt cheap, it makes no sense. If someone wants a power house cheap 4K dual card setup, might as well get used after market 290s as a stop-gap. A $550 R9 295X2 is just a bad deal against an after-market 980Ti.

So the R9 290s for $400 isn't a bad deal though given the circumstances of me only playing that set of games and the other circumstances I have?

Would love to hear your opinion on the R9 290s for $400, but I think I'll make an offer tomorrow if I don't hear from you by then. I don't see any cheaper options out there for what I want to do.

 

[crashtech]

I'm having trouble deciding if I should get a mate for my Tri-X 290, or wait and see what Fury Pro is like.

 

[Gikaseixas]

290 CF for $400 is a great investment as we seem to be stuck on 28nm for at least another year. You'll be able to match/beat top single gpus with that setup.

I endorse it

 

[wilds]

I'm having trouble deciding if I should get a mate for my Tri-X 290, or wait and see what Fury Pro is like.

I'm in the same boat. If I do get another 290, I would be consuming far more power and end up being slower than 2 Fury Nanos and a little faster than Fury X.

The Tri-X went up in price by quite a bit. I'm kicking myself for not snagging another these past few months.

I feel like a heavily discounted r9 295x could be a good deal; especially for users looking to Tri fire their 290(x). This would only work well if the games being played support crossfire and are providing smooth frame times. If I had Trifire working on my favorite games, I'd end up undervolting and underclocking the cards a bit to help lower all that waste heat.

 

[crashtech]

Really would like to have a deeper understanding of Crossfire; seems as if with both it and SLI, low minimums become a problem that can be somewhat alleviated by a higher-end CPU. From the data, that's the most worrying aspect, average fps might be much improved, but min fps not at all, or actually become a bit worse.

 

[tential]

Really would like to have a deeper understanding of Crossfire; seems as if with both it and SLI, low minimums become a problem that can be somewhat alleviated by a higher-end CPU. From the data, that's the most worrying aspect, average fps might be much improved, but min fps not at all, or actually become a bit worse.

Ya getting those numbers in reviews is hard especially current reviews to see more recent performance.

Mgpu gaming needs to work more flawlessly moving forward but I think I'm ok in the games I want to play anyway.

This is an good a time as any to try out Mgpu gaming for cheap while I wait for the node shrink and it makes it easier selling 2 cheaper cards vs one flagship card when it comes to local reselling

 

[Z15CAM]

Russia: My mistake a assumed that a 295 x2 were 290X's in CF under water?

get used after market 290s as a stop-gap

B4 4K I agree and wait it out until 4K evolves with a cheap 1440p over-clock-able QNIX IPS Dvi-D Display.

A single 290 will do until 4K evolves but man in the mean time 2x's water cooled CF 290X with an 60 to 120Hz IPS 1440p display is fantastic.

 

[.vodka]

More or less. 290X CF on a single board, watercooled = 295x2

 

[Z15CAM]

More or less. 290X CF on a single board, water cooled = 295x2

I thought so but Russia kinda thinks different were any reviews I see CF 290 walks all over a single nVidia 980Ti in 1440p + IPS display approaching true 4K.

Maybe Russia is stuck on a 1080 TN Display!

 

[crashtech]

I was looking for a deep dive on Crossfire that wasn't outdated but so far haven't found anything.

 

[3DVagabond]

295X2 generally outperforms 290X crossfire because it doesn't throttle. It draws up to ~500W through 2x8P connectors though (minus the 75W from PCI-E) so some PSU's with aggressive OCP will trip the protection circuits.

 

[crashtech]

Would 290 Tri-X X2 throttle? My single card never even comes close.

 

[3DVagabond]

Would 290 Tri-X X2 throttle? My single card never even comes close.

I would assume if you left a slot in between and had good circulation (side fan blowing directly on the cards) then it would be OK. Not certain, though.

 

[tential]

I would assume if you left a slot in between and had good circulation (side fan blowing directly on the cards) then it would be OK. Not certain, though.

Hmm, now I really do have to decide what I'm going to do. CF seems like a good idea, but the fact that I can't find crossfire reviews of AIB cards is ridiculous. I am too tired to look anymore right now. I'm hoping someone here knows one because trying to search through google is annoying.

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

@original poster,
Cause you get 2 cards verses a 980 ti, and it beat an titan X lolz!D:

 

[crashtech]

The problem with Crossfire as I see it is in many cases there is a regression in minimum frame rates which can be patched sometimes with a really high-end CPU, but that takes away a lot of the cost advantage of CF in the first place.